Just a few more days before the 17th Annual Punta Gorda Sullivan St. Craft Festival is finally here, and we’re so excited to be back in this beautiful South Florida spot! As American Craft Endeavors embarks on another incredible craft festival, there is no question that your success is what we’re aiming for. After all, we know that you’re not only sharing your talents with visitors, but you’re also running a business.

With that in mind, we thought we’d give you some tips that could help maximize your sales and increase your bottom line, all while sharing your passions and talents with the world.

Take time to plan. Whether you’re preparing for a craft festival or simply planning out your inventory, set some time aside each week to organize your business. While handcrafted, original creations are at the core of your biz, it’s important to invest time in the other parts that make your venture possible. That’s why you must make sure you have set days where you focus on different areas of your business: crafting new products, administration, promotion and more.

Get a little help from your friends. Selling your handcrafted goodies at a craft festival is a fun experience, but you shouldn’t do it alone. Having a friend or family member with you at all times ensures that your booth is always covered, it helps give you and your booth partner appropriate lunch and bathroom breaks throughout the day, and it gives customers plenty of friendly faces to rave to about your work.

Focus on a unique specialty. Where there is no focus, there is confusion, a trait that doesn’t sit well with potential customers. It’s wonderful to be able to create a variety of handcrafted items, but you maximize your chances of success by choosing a specialty niche that you love and focusing your business on that. You will not only attract a target audience that will stick with you for years, but by creating a specialty for yourself, you’re introducing customers to something they may never have known about otherwise.

Create a personal brand. Your business is a reflection of who you are, so create a brand around your crafting business that represents you and highlights your talents. That means creating branding for your biz that is simple and fun, while also remaining consistent. Come up with a logo you love and make use of it. Take advantage of free marketing tools readily available, too! This is your chance to get your business out there, so don’t be afraid to start a Facebook page, have a functional website or online store that is easy to navigate, or create a newsletter that lets your fans know where and when they can find you.

Work with others in the same boat as you. The principle behind “it takes a village” goes well beyond child rearing. Successful business owners collaborate with others in their community who are on the same page as they are. Working craft festivals is a great opportunity to network with other business owners that may be able to give you advice, help you with your business and ultimately send customers your way. And you can do the same for them!

Our success only occurs if you are successful — and we want you to be successful! That is why American Craft Endeavors produces some of the best craft festivals in the industry, bringing your work to some of the most beautiful and exciting locations in the country, like Punta Gorda, Florida! In our cover graphic we selected three participating crafters to highlight who exemplify excellence in their web presence. Check out Ambrosia Candies if you like soft flaky peanut brittle or gourmet cake truffles. At their booth and on their website you’ll find endless reasons to cheat on your diet! Beads By Margo may be just the spot to find a beautiful and affordable gift for that special someone—the holidays will be here before you know it! You’ll find seasonal themes, everyday jewelry and custom designs. If you are very particular about what you put on your skin, perhaps because of sensitivity to certain ingredients, you won’t want to miss Kopa Soap Company. Their attractive, hand-crafted soaps use only natural ingredients.